Pork from Keneally’s pork barrel needed for Wallsend

Greens candidate for Wallsend, Keith Parsons has called on Premier Keneally to give Wallsend some pork our of her pork barrel .

He wants a commitment for $160m

to fund the Glendale interchange

to implement Wallsend flood management strategies

for oncology services at Waratah Calvary Hospital.

Mr Parsons said, “Just before her government moved into caretaker mode Kristina Keneally ‘porked’ her own electorate of Heffron. She abolished access fees to Mascot and Green Square Railway Stations, estimated to cost the government $5m a year, or $160m to compensate the private company that runs the airport rail link over the life of the contract.

“She has suddenly realised that commuters in her own electorate have been ripped off by her government for 11 years, said Mr Parsons.

“We want her to be equally generous with Wallsend. $160 m would pay for much more important and regionally significant projects up here in Labor’s former Hunter heartland.

“It would allow for completion of the Glendale project: $50m for Glendale railway station and interchange and $50m for the Pennant Street bridge and other road works.

“Wallsend was forced to wait for 18 years for a commitment in 2010 to fund a mere $6.5m for a Cardiff Station accessibility elevator. A Glendale station and interchange were promised ‘within 4 years’ by Bob Carr 13 years ago.

“All these initiatives are more important than reducing rail commuters’ fares in the Premier’s electorate,”

“We want Ms Keneally to match the $160m commitment she made to her electorate and we want a genuine commitment now”, said Mr. Parsons.